Thought Manipulation: The Use and Abuse of Psychological Trickery

180 Pages·2009·0.77 MB·English

by  Sapir Handelman

T
HOUGHT
M
ANIPULATION
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T
HOUGHT
M
ANIPULATION
The Use and Abuse of
Psychological Trickery
Sapir Handelman
P
RAEGER
An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC
Copyright©2009bySapirHandelman
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedina
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Thoughtmanipulation:theuseandabuseofpsychologicaltrickery/SapirHandelman.
p.cm.—
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978–0–313–35532–5(hardcopy:alk.paper)—ISBN978-0-313-35533-2
(ebook:alk.paper)
1. Control(Psychology).2. Mentalsuggestion.3. Behaviormodification. I.Title.
BF611.H35 2009
153.8’5—dc22 2009009899
13 12 11 10 9 1 2 3 4 5
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In memory of my parents, Miriam and Joseph, and for my beloved
wife,Yael.
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Contents
Introduction ix
1 TheManipulation Phenomenon:An Overview 1
2 TheTopographyof Manipulation 21
3 Freedomof Choiceand theEthics of Manipulation 31
4 FourTypesof Manipulation 45
5 IntroducingManipulations ThatLimit Us 49
6 SpotlightonAdvertising: TheFreeMarketand Manipulation 51
7 SpotlightonPolitics: IntellectualManipulation 83
8 SpotlightonLeadership: Manipulative Peacemakers 99
9 IntroducingManipulations ThatOpen Our Minds 111
10 Spotlighton Therapy:Therapeutic Manipulation 119
11 Liberation byManipulation 141
12 Conclusion 153
Bibliography 155
Index 161
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Introduction
THE CHALLENGE OF MANIPULATION
Manipulationisawide-rangingphenomenon,presentinalmostevery
dimension of our social life. It is a puzzling motivating action geared
towards interference in the decision-making process of another per-
son,usuallywithouthisapproval.Thiskindofintrusionisdoneindi-
rectly by employing morally questionable tricks, such as temptation,
distraction,and misdirection.
The trickery quality associated with manipulation enables the phe-
nomenon to appear in almost infinite variations and under many dif-
ferent guises, from a powerful weapon in the service of indecent
propaganda1 to altruistic measures in psychotherapy and even educa-
tion.2 Indeed, social scientists have pointed out that an effective
change in human decision-making and behavior cannot be achieved
without employinga certaindegree of manipulation.3
Manipulation is not exactly persuasion, not precisely coercion, and
not merely similar to deception. This elusive phenomenon is located
somewhereinthegrayareabetweenthosemotivatingactions,andthis
gray place presents essential difficulties in characterizing manipula-
tion and measuringits impact.
Theskilledmanipulatoradoptsstrategiesinawaythatwillobscure
normative and legal judgment of his actions. His sophisticated and
illusive methods of influence challenge the wisdom of leading propo-
nentsoftheopensociety.Thechallengeappearsinalmostanydimen-
sion one can imagine, from politics to advertising to education and
even to the most intimate relationships. For example, where is the